New England Patriots: Bill Belichick’s draft deficiencies are coming to roost
The New England Patriots’ struggles can be attributed to Bill Belichick’s recent draft record.
There is no question, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is among the greatest coaches in NFL history. With six Super Bowl titles over a 20-year period, it’s hard to find any problem with a man who has made a strong name for himself by taking other teams’ afterthoughts and turning them into prolific players.
For all that Belichick has done throughout his career and recently, though, his one weakness may have come in the draft. That’s right, the weakness that everyone can hop on Belichick for is his recent draft record.
To be fair, in his time as head coach and general manager, he has selected a large group of stellar players as head coach, including Matt Light, Dont’a Hightower and, of course, two Hall-of-Famers in Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.
He also stole Stephon Gilmore in free agency and turned him into a champion and Defensive Player of the Year. Furthermore, from 2010-13, Belichick had a phenomenal stretch of drafting stars like Devin McCourty and Chandler Jones, all of whom have made a big impact on the franchise and the field.
However, over his time as both the head coach and general manager, particularly since 2013, Belichick has not drafted a Pro-Bowl player. In fact, his last drafted Pro-Bowler was Jamie Collins. Additionally, he traded away Jones to Arizona in a deal that has helped the Cardinals and not so much the Patriots.
Bad drafting has caught up to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Belichick has won three Super Bowls since drafting Collins and who wouldn’t be happy with that? Safe to say, nobody. Unfortunately for Patriots fans, the lack of talent and bad drafting have started to show this season amid a 3-5 start.
Some will say get rid of the coach. That of course, is ridiculous. However, the data doesn’t lie. Recently, the Patriots placed both their 2020 third-round picks, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, on injured reserve, after the team traded up to select both. Given the skill players that Cam Newton has this season, that doesn’t help. It’s also a factor that may have contributed to Brady’s departure.
Moreover, the selection of N’Keal Harry is looking questionable given the fact that players such as A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf were still on the board and are now impact players for the Titans and Seahawks, respectively, while Harry has yet to establish his first-round status.
Belichick selected Sony Michel over Lamar Jackson. Looking back on that move and having seen what Jackson has become, maybe it was worth a shot. Michel did score the touchdown that won him a sixth ring but since then, not much to show for that pick.
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Without any doubt, Belichick is a great coach. He has also made great deals in his career, and that is to be commended. But his recent draft selections have been questionable. He’s not going anywhere, but he must change his approach to the draft and free agency or losses will pile up, a possibility that will not please New Englanders given their expectations and the recent success they have delighted in.